How to Use Borax for Flea Control

If fleas have taken over your home, consider Borax for flea control. Borax is an active ingredient in many commercial flea control sprays, helping to kill fleas by drying them out. It can cause minor skin, eye, and throat irritation, but is otherwise considered safe for your family and your pets. Effective over long periods of time, a single Borax treatment can continue to kill fleas and their eggs for up to a year. Just apply it to the dark parts of your home and let it take care of your flea problem.

How Does Borax Work?

Borax is a desiccant. It gets inside the fleas and their eggs and larva, dehydrating them. Without water, the pests cannot survive.

Borax is potent for long periods of time. If new fleas get into your home, Borax left in the carpet and furniture will kill off the eggs and larva that these new fleas will create, limiting the infestation to the initial generation.

Step 1 - Clean the House

It is important to begin by cleaning up. You need to be able to move furniture to reach all the dark corners in which fleas love to breed. Put away shoes and toys to keep them clean. Make sure the bottoms of closets are accessible, as these are favored breeding grounds.

Next, vacuum all carpets well. The more dust and dirt you can remove in advance, the easier it will be for the Borax to work in deep and get all the fleas and eggs. Also vacuum cloth furniture and remove cushions to get access to the hidden corners and creases where fleas hideout.

Step 2 - Apply the Borax

Sprinkle the Borax over the surface of your carpet. Be certain to get under furniture, in corners, and inside closets. Pay special attention to areas where your pets like to spend time. Using a push broom, pushing one direction, spread the Borax over the whole surface in an even layer. Then, using a back and forth motion, work the Borax deep into the carpet. The deeper you can work it the more fleas and eggs you will catch. Eventually, there should be no visible powder remaining.

To treat furniture, sprinkle Borax over the surface and work into the fabric with a hand broom until there is no visible powder remaining. Be sure to get it into wells and corners where fleas are likely to hide.

Step 3 - Follow-up

Vacuum any Borax powder remaining on the furniture. Otherwise, let everything be for 24 to 36 hours after applying the Borax. After that, begin vacuuming as normal. This will dispose of any dead adult fleas and desiccated corpses. The Borax should remain active in your carpet for up to a year to control further infestations. However, if your carpet is washed or deep cleaned, it will be necessary to reapply the Borax to maintain the protection. You may also reapply Borax powder if it doesn't seem to maintain its efficacy after the initial application.